Back / lumbar spine decisions — 2019

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to their death, and no service connection decisions were made.

The Board has granted the Veteran's claim for service connection for a low back disorder, finding that new and material evidence was received to reopen the previously denied claim. The Board also found that the Veteran's current back condition is related to his active duty service.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for his back disability and associated radiculopathies has been denied. The evidence does not meet the criteria for a higher than 20 percent rating prior to November 12, 2015, or greater than 40 percent from that date.

The Board denied earlier effective dates for the awards of service connection for lumbago with degenerative disc disease of the lumbar spine, papillomas of the eyelids, loss of sense of smell, and loss of sense of taste.,There is no evidence that a formal or informal claim was filed prior to the dates awarded.

The Veteran's claims for service connection are being remanded due to the need for additional development, including obtaining Social Security records and providing an addendum opinion regarding his respiratory disability.

The Board has remanded the claims for a low back disorder and bilateral lower extremity neurologic disorder due to insufficient medical evidence addressing their etiology. The Veteran's statements about service-related injuries are considered, but not evaluated as true or false.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for a back condition and a nasal condition, to include a sinus condition and allergic rhinitis due to insufficient consideration of relevant evidence in previous VA examinations.

The Veteran's claim for a higher rating for chronic low back strain was denied, but the Board granted secondary service connection for bilateral lower extremity sciatic radiculopathy.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for migraine headaches, thoracolumbar strain, and cervical strain are remanded due to inadequate examinations.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for lumbar and cervical spine disabilities due to incomplete records from Elmendorf Air Force Base. The VA will need to obtain these records and provide an addendum medical opinion if necessary.

The Veteran's service connection claim for a lumbar spine disability was denied. The Board found that the evidence did not support a finding of in-service injury or disease related to this condition.,The Veteran's hearing loss and hypothyroidism were both evaluated at their current levels, but he requested higher evaluations. A new VA examination is needed to determine if his disabilities are more severe than currently rated.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for bilateral shoulder disability and upper back disability due to inadequate previous VA opinions. The Veteran is seeking service connection for these conditions, which are alleged to be related to her in-service motor vehicle accident in September 2009.

The Board has remanded the cases for additional development due to inadequate medical opinions regarding the Veteran's back disability, bilateral hearing loss, and tinnitus.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability secondary to the Veteran's service-connected right foot plantar fasciitis and right ankle tendonitis. However, compensation under 38 C.F.R. § 1151 for numbness of left face, upper lip and nose was denied.

The Board has dismissed the appeals for splenectomy and sleep apnea. The remaining issues have been remanded for further development.

The Board has dismissed all appeals as the appellant died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claim for a low back disability due to conflicting medical opinions and lack of in-service documentation. The case will be returned to obtain private treatment records, service personnel records, and a VA examination.

The Board has granted service connection for a back disability, including spondylolisthesis and chronic lumbar strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is at least as likely as not related to her military service.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection of back and heart disabilities due to lack of new and material evidence. The case is remanded for further development.

The Board has remanded the claims for a cervical spine disability, low back disability, left knee disability, and right knee disability due to additional pertinent VA medical records that have not been considered yet.